upgrades for epi sg jr

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Mr. C

Mr. C

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My wife picked up an Epi SG Junior for me for Christmas. I would like to make some upgrades to this axe and would like some input. I plan on putting new tuners on it and have some in mind. I also put in a Pearly Gates so that is done. What bridge would be a good choice for this guitar? And how about the rest of the electronics? What would be some good choices for it? I know it's not going to sound like my Fender Am. Strat. as far as quality, but just would like to make it better than it is now. Thanks!
 
It is one of those single pickup Jr.s based of the original SG Jr. or a modern SG Jr.?
 
Switchcraft input and switch(not sure if there is a switch) CTS pot/s, metric Tone pros bridge, and bone nut is what I would do. Oh and I would ditch the wiring harness too!
 
Be mindful about Epi headstocks when choosing tuners - they are actually a little thicker than their Gibson counterparts.

I've got some grovers on an Epi SG that don't have much of the post sticking out the top (and they were stock on a "vintage" G400). Many years back (last century hahaha) I fitted some Gotoh's to a junk Epi Jnr and had to remove a few mm's from the back of the headstock just to get them in (not recommended if you care about the instrument). Things may have changed since, but worth considering.

Give it a bone nut, shield the electrics, rock out. You could probably make it "feel" better with a fret job (cleaning up the ends, maybe flooding the frets etc - all the little things they don't have time to do in the factory), perhaps rolling the edges of the fingerboard a little.

Honestly, don't spend too much time worrying about if it's "good" enough or musing on what parts might make it better. That's the beauty of having multiple guitars, sometimes the "crappy" ones give you the exact sound you want.
 
Id find an aftermarket pickup replacement...this isnt one of those guitars that you can do much to...perhaps do some sanding and a few burn marks to make it look like a really old one.
 
Well darrin I already put a Pearly Gates so any other pickup change is unnecessary.

Thanks slowmotion for the info on the tuners. I definitely need to change them out, (at least I think so). The g string keeps going out of tune, but I suppose the crappy bridge could be the culprit too. I plan on changing that out. Not sure about the pots, but guess it couldn't hurt to change them out.
 
I'm just repeating something I've seen here (and elsewhere) many times, but if you have one or two strings going out of tune, it seems like the culprit is usually the nut, not the tuners. Does the string go flat after you do bends? I'd certainly check into that before springing for a new set of tuners. What's wrong with the bridge?
 
Mr. C said:
Well darrin I already put a Pearly Gates so any other pickup change is unnecessary.

Thanks slowmotion for the info on the tuners. I definitely need to change them out, (at least I think so). The g string keeps going out of tune, but I suppose the crappy bridge could be the culprit too. I plan on changing that out. Not sure about the pots, but guess it couldn't hurt to change them out.
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What danw said. It almost certainly won't be a faulty tuner. That would be the very last thing I'd check. Start with the nut making sure the saddles is cut properly and the string isn't sticking. Same at the saddle.
 
I guess I'll have to find someone to change the nut if that's the problem. I don't have the confidence to do it myself. The idea about changing the bridge came from reviews I read on HC. There is no way to adjust intonation of individual strings (the bridge is like the type you find on acoustic guitars). Maybe I don't need to change the bridge, and that's fine. I would like better quality tuners however whether or not they are the cause of it going out of tune. Thanks all for your continued help.
 
Mr. C said:
I guess I'll have to find someone to change the nut if that's the problem. I don't have the confidence to do it myself. The idea about changing the bridge came from reviews I read on HC. There is no way to adjust intonation of individual strings (the bridge is like the type you find on acoustic guitars). Maybe I don't need to change the bridge, and that's fine. I would like better quality tuners however whether or not they are the cause of it going out of tune. Thanks all for your continued help.
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Nothing wrong with wanting better, smother, nicer tuners but the benefit will be completely lost if the nut isn't cut right.

For the bridge, If the intonation is OK then you can hold on that as the differences will be subtle on a cheaper guitar. Not that it won't play nicer with a new or better one but spend your time and money getting the stuff that will make it play right first them work on the detail.
 
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